Alcaraz takes revenge on Shelton to win first Paris title

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 on Sunday to claim his first Paris Masters title. The 23-year-old Spaniard secured the victory in just under two hours, providing revenge for Shelton ending Alcaraz's US Open title defense earlier this season. This win marks the ninth 1000-level title of Alcaraz's career and his fifth tour-level title of the year.

The victory continues Alcaraz's comeback from a wrist injury that caused him to miss Wimbledon and the French Open. Following a recent 500-level title win in Vienna, Alcaraz has won nine consecutive matches. He noted that the last two weeks have been some of his best play since returning from injury, adding that he felt he took a mental step forward during the tournament.

For Shelton, the match was his first defeat in a Masters final. While the Paris clash was relatively short, Alcaraz previously had to save two match points during a five-set quarter-final against Taylor Fritz earlier in the tournament. Alcaraz now heads to the ATP Finals in Turin, scheduled for November 15-22.

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